By Emeka Dennar
Rivers United head coach Finidi George has described Ivorian side San Pedro as a quality opponent with a “bunch of young, energetic players” ahead of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round first-leg clash on Saturday.
The Nigerian champions, known as the Pride of Rivers, have arrived in San Pedro for the encounter against the former Ivorian Ligue 1 champions, with Finidi expecting a competitive contest against a youthful San Pedro side. The return leg is scheduled for September 13 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Speaking ahead of the first leg, the former Super Eagles handler disclosed what he discovered about the Ivorian side, who finished as runners-up in Ligue 1 last season, adding that Rivers United will be ready for the task.
“They are a good team with a bunch of young players that have the energy and physicality,” the ex-Enyimba gaffer told Exceedmedia.ng.
“I also think they are not that experienced in this competition. They are a young team. They like to play good football. They’re aggressive, and that’s because they are young.
“We’ll face a team that knows what they’re doing. And playing at home, they’ll bring that physicality which we are aware of, and we’ll try to let our players know as well.
“So, I think from what we have seen from their matches we have watched, we know they are an aggressive side and they like to play good football as well.
“We’ll set up properly, prepare properly to make sure that we have a good game.”
If Rivers United overcome San Pedro over two legs, they will meet the winner of Vipers (Uganda) and Nouadhibou (Mauritania) for a place in the lucrative group stage of the competition.
